A Perpetual State Of Dissatisfaction
The Promise Of Happiness that a fresh roll of film provides.
Very, very rarely does an image emerge that I love.
I think this is the normal state for a photographer, or anybody engaged in a creative process, whether that be a painting, a piece of music, or cycling down a favourite trail.
There is always room for improvement, and it’s that possibility that keeps you going, again and again.
Stendhal defined beauty as the promise of happiness - and that pretty much works for the pursuit of an image too.
The satisfaction from getting almost there is tantalising. The very next exposure may be The One.
With analogue photography, part of the allure - for me - is the manifold ways an image can be influenced by my actions.
Whether it being having the wrong film for the job, the wrong technique, or an external factor - there are so many layers of possibility.
Digital removes some of that, which is absolutely wonderful, but not what is always needed. Photographing on film is immensely frustrating, but addictive.
The promise of happiness.
Highly relatable!
It’s all path of the journey I guess. I remember shooting my worst roll of film ever with that Fujica. First I tried provia slide film on a super grey November late afternoon, completely f’d up the exposure and to top it up with a cherry I left the lens cap on for the first 4 frames….